What is Acupuncture?
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How Does Aupuncture Work?
Several processes have been proposed to explain acupuncture's
effects, primarily those on pain. Acupuncture points are believed to
stimulate the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) to
release chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These
chemicals either change the experience of pain or release other
chemicals, such as hormones, that influence the body's self-regulating
systems. The biochemical changes may stimulate the body's natural
healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.
There are three main mechanisms:
1.Conduction of electromagnetic signals: Western scientists have
found evidence that acupuncture points are strategic conductors of
electromagnetic signals. Stimulating points along these pathways
through acupuncture enables electromagnetic signals to be relayed at
a greater rate than under normal conditions. These signals may start
the flow of pain-killing biochemicals, such as endorphins, and of
immune system cells to specific sites in the body that are injured or
vulnerable to disease.
2.Activation of opioid systems: Research has found that several types of
opioids may be released into the central nervous system during
acupuncture treatment, thereby reducing pain.
3.Changes in brain chemistry, sensation, and involuntary body
functions: Studies have shown that acupuncture may alter brain
chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters and
neurohormones. Acupuncture also has been documented to affect the
parts of the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary
body functions, such as immune reactions and processes whereby a
person's blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature are
regulated. Preclinical studies have documented acupuncture's effects,
but they have not been able to fully explain how acupuncture works
within the framework of the Western system of medicine. According to
the NIH Consensus Statement on Acupuncture: Acupuncture as a
therapeutic intervention is widely practiced in the United States. While
there have been many studies of its potential usefulness, many of these
studies provide equivocal results because of design, sample size, and
other factors. The issue is further complicated by inherent difficulties in
the use of appropriate controls, such as placebos and sham
acupuncture groups. However, promising results have emerged, for
example, showing efficacy of acupuncture in adult postoperative and
chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in postoperative dental pain.
There are other situations such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation,
headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial
pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and
asthma, in which acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment
or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive
management program. Further research is likely to uncover additional
areas where acupuncture interventions will be useful. Increasingly,
acupuncture is complementing conventional therapies. For example,
doctors may combine acupuncture and drugs to control
surgery-related pain in their patients. By providing both acupuncture
and certain conventional anesthetic drugs, some doctors have found it
possible to achieve a state of complete pain relief for some patients.
They also have found that using acupuncture lowers the need for
conventional pain-killing drugs and thus reduces the risk of side effects
for patients who take the drugs. Currently, one of the main reasons
Americans seek acupuncture treatment is to relieve chronic pain,
especially from conditions such as arthritis or lower back disorders.
Some clinical studies show that acupuncture is effective in relieving
both chronic (long-lasting) and acute or sudden pain.
The information in this website is given strictly for educational purposes. The Natural
Alternatives, Institute of Healing Arts, PLLC does not prescribe, treat, diagnose, or
make any recommendations for the treatment of disease as in conventional medicine,
and assumes no responsibility for how this information is used. In no way should the
information on this website be considered a substitute for competent medical care by
the health care professional of your choice. The statements in this website are not
intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Several processes have been proposed to explain acupuncture's
effects, primarily those on pain. Acupuncture points are believed to
stimulate the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) to
release chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These
chemicals either change the experience of pain or release other
chemicals, such as hormones, that influence the body's self-regulating
systems. The biochemical changes may stimulate the body's natural
healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.
There are three main mechanisms:
1.Conduction of electromagnetic signals: Western scientists have
found evidence that acupuncture points are strategic conductors of
electromagnetic signals. Stimulating points along these pathways
through acupuncture enables electromagnetic signals to be relayed at
a greater rate than under normal conditions. These signals may start
the flow of pain-killing biochemicals, such as endorphins, and of
immune system cells to specific sites in the body that are injured or
vulnerable to disease.
2.Activation of opioid systems: Research has found that several types of
opioids may be released into the central nervous system during
acupuncture treatment, thereby reducing pain.
3.Changes in brain chemistry, sensation, and involuntary body
functions: Studies have shown that acupuncture may alter brain
chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters and
neurohormones. Acupuncture also has been documented to affect the
parts of the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary
body functions, such as immune reactions and processes whereby a
person's blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature are
regulated. Preclinical studies have documented acupuncture's effects,
but they have not been able to fully explain how acupuncture works
within the framework of the Western system of medicine. According to
the NIH Consensus Statement on Acupuncture: Acupuncture as a
therapeutic intervention is widely practiced in the United States. While
there have been many studies of its potential usefulness, many of these
studies provide equivocal results because of design, sample size, and
other factors. The issue is further complicated by inherent difficulties in
the use of appropriate controls, such as placebos and sham
acupuncture groups. However, promising results have emerged, for
example, showing efficacy of acupuncture in adult postoperative and
chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in postoperative dental pain.
There are other situations such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation,
headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial
pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and
asthma, in which acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment
or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive
management program. Further research is likely to uncover additional
areas where acupuncture interventions will be useful. Increasingly,
acupuncture is complementing conventional therapies. For example,
doctors may combine acupuncture and drugs to control
surgery-related pain in their patients. By providing both acupuncture
and certain conventional anesthetic drugs, some doctors have found it
possible to achieve a state of complete pain relief for some patients.
They also have found that using acupuncture lowers the need for
conventional pain-killing drugs and thus reduces the risk of side effects
for patients who take the drugs. Currently, one of the main reasons
Americans seek acupuncture treatment is to relieve chronic pain,
especially from conditions such as arthritis or lower back disorders.
Some clinical studies show that acupuncture is effective in relieving
both chronic (long-lasting) and acute or sudden pain.
The information in this website is given strictly for educational purposes. The Natural
Alternatives, Institute of Healing Arts, PLLC does not prescribe, treat, diagnose, or
make any recommendations for the treatment of disease as in conventional medicine,
and assumes no responsibility for how this information is used. In no way should the
information on this website be considered a substitute for competent medical care by
the health care professional of your choice. The statements in this website are not
intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.